Problems · by component

2013 Kia Rio air bags problems

34 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2013 Kia Rio cite air bags, 22% of all 153 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
34
22% of all complaints
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I received a letter from KIA corporation that they would voluntarily replace a part (the clockspring assembly) in the steering wheel shaft as the malfunction would impair the proper functioning of the air bags, in the letter they stated specifically that this would not cost me any money out pocket including the diagnostic, I took the car to one of their dealers and they refused to service my vehicle if I did not pay upfront. I called another of their dealers but they also said I would have to pay for the diagnostic. I then called corporate and also corresponded with them via email but they did not solve the problem. Ever since I have been involved in two separate collisions and the air bags did not deploy, also the horn stop functioning and after doing some online research I found out it also depends on the part that was supposed to be replaced to function, the steering wheel control such as cruise control etc. also stopped working. Corporate has not gotten back to me and I feel they are just going to let it die out and not do anything about it. Meanwhile I am driving the vehicle without air bags, horn and steering wheel controls. I have no choice because my…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 7, 2023Air bags, Unknown or other, Forward collision avoidanceCrash reportedODI 11548828
“I was sitting behind a S.U.V . when it started to move i doubt if we were going 5 miles I slightly moved my steering wheel not even a half a turn to move straight behind the S.U.V. My car shot to the right jumped a curb, hit a pole, thru two trees down a hill and into a fence. when it was all said and done my car wouldn't stop, my airbag never deployed and my car was totaled. i kept asking if there was a way this car could be examined.the insurance company took the car.i had started having problems prior to this incident that started around the end of May. but before that the car ran pretty good and only had 52,000 miles.1st it wouldn't start after driving it for a while. you would have to wait a few minutes and it would restart. So my husband took it to our mechanic. he couldn't find anything wrong and it even passed inspection. About a week and a half later i am driving and the car just stopped while I am driving no power.I finally get it to start again.get it to a safer place and called AAA towing. they towed it to Kia. they replaced some type of sensor i believe it was a crank.it ran smooth but it still didn't feel right.it had a hard time pulling hills and…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 16, 2022Air bags, Unknown or otherCrash reportedODI 11484878
“The contact owns a 2013 Kia Rio. The contact stated when he started the vehicle, he noticed that the air bag warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the air bag sensor on the driver’s side needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted but a diagnostic test was not preformed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 100,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 7, 2022Air bagsODI 11483228
“The air bag light has come on and as I understand I am no longer protected in case of an accident.i do not find a recall but there should be as I am seeing many complaints for the same issue”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 1, 2022Air bagsODI 11454697
“BOUGHT CAR USED IN NOVEMBER OF 2020 FROM A USED CAR LOT MADE NOTE OF AIRBAG LIGHT ON AND NO HORN THEY SAID THEY WILL SCAN IT AND THEY DID SAID IT WAS THE CLOCK SPRING AND THEY WERE GONNA ORDER ONE. NEVER GOT IT ABOUT A MONTH LATER CALLED LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP THEY SAID MY CAR DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL FOR AIRBAGS AND DID NOT FIX IT WHEN I HAD THEM LOOK AT IT. VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND CAN BE DEADLY AS I HAVE NO HORN OR AIRBAG TO PROTECT ME IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 14, 2021Steering, Air bagsODI 11396175
“THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THIS MEANS THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. KIA HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THE CLOCK SPRING BUT THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX BECAUSE IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. THIS IS PLACING ME AND MY FAMILY IN DANGER OF BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED IF IN AN ACCIDENT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 16, 2020Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11374939

Showing 6 of 34 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 2013 Rio problem areas